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Goodwill's Eye Care For All Kids Campaign

Sep 1, 2011

Rochester, NY (August 30, 2011) — Goodwill of the Finger Lakes today announced it is kicking off the Eye Care for All Kids Campaign to empower students to overcome barriers to their success posed by vision issues in the classroom. All 10 of Goodwill’s local stores will accept $1 and $5 donations at the registers from September 1 through September 18, 2011 to directly support vision programs for kids at Goodwill affiliate the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI).

“The ability to see the classroom whiteboard, to see the text in a workbook or the images on the computer monitor is fundamental to students’ success in school. With one quarter of school-aged children having vision problems, we’re asking everyone in the community to join us in the effort to provide these kids the vision care they need,” says Kristen O’Connell, Development Manager at Goodwill of the Finger Lakes.

Through the “Eye Care for All Kids” program, customers can have Goodwill store associates add their donation to their bill right at the check-out with all proceeds going directly to support ABVI’s vision wellness and outreach programs for kids.

“If not caught early, many vision issues can permanently damage a child’s eyesight. That’s why Goodwill is campaigning to raise funds for ABVI’s vital programs that provide free early vision screenings, free comprehensive eye exams and free eyeglasses when needed,” says O’Connell.

For every dollar raised through Goodwill’s campaign, O’Connell says ABVI’s programs will benefit by being able to help control and potentially prevent vision issues such as amblyopia (lazy eye), strabismus (crossed eyes), ptosis (drooping of the eyelid), color blindness and refractive errors such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

“Everyone at Goodwill is excited to be a part of this first-ever campaign and we are proud to give our customers the ability to make a difference in the lives of our community’s most vital asset – our children,” says O’Connell.